MICHIGAN GENEALOGY TRAILS
A Proud Part of
The Genealogy Trails History Group
Volunteers dedicated to Free Genealogy
We hope you have a great time visiting us at Genealogy Michigan Trails. Lets all explore the places and areas of Michigan that our ancestors chose to settle in. This should prove to be an exciting journey, it will be fun, and along the way we will all get a better understanding of Michigan. It will be a step back in time as we get to know the people that created Michigan and formed it into the beautiful state it now is. We want to encourage anyone who has Michigan ties & connections to get in touch with us to share your contributions and especially the old history, the information that you can find about all the pioneer families, and naturally -- some of the Indian History that is so important to this State. We're also looking for Obituaries, Biographies and County History, just about everything is helpful.
WE REGRET THAT WE ARE UNABLE TO DO PERSONAL RESEARCH FOR YOU.
We don't have the time required to do a good job for you.
MICHIGAN INFORMATION
The State of Michigan was admitted to the Union on January 26, 1837.
The name "Michigan" is derived from a Chippewa Indian word "meicigama" meaning "great water" and refers to the Great Lakes which hug the shores of the State. Michigan is said to have been first discovered around 1610 and inhabited by the Indians. In the mid 1700's it was claimed by the French -- but was ceded to the British until the Revolution when it became part of the United States but we didn't take full possession of it until 1796 and shortly thereafter it became part of the Northwest Territory. Then from 1800 to 1805 it was connected with the Ohio and the Indian Territories. The first American settlers began settling in Michigan about 1796, coming from England but it was not until about 1818 that an appreciable amount of settlers was noticed. 1919 was the first public sales and the work on the Eric Canal attracted many. The completion of the Canal in 1825 added stimuli to the immigrants. Its about this timed that many came to work on the road construction heading toward Chicago. By 1840 the immigration increased to such an extent that about half of the southern peninsula was cultivated. From 1840 - 1890 there were tens of thousand of workers who came to work in the lumber and mining camps.
